Material handling device



J. T. PAYNE 2,972,763

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Feb. 28, 1961 Filed MarOh 19, 1959 34 g5 EA 56 5l L@ 'INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States The present invention relates to a' device for handling atent relatively fragile, light-weight material on the order of gold leaf for gilding, lint, etc.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of an improved hand manipulated material handling device comprising a hand grip member supporting a'material engaging element of electrically non-conducting composition, such as brush-like brist1es,'so that it may be charged with static electricity to attract light-weight materials thereto, and a static electricity generator arranged to charge the element with static electricity. The improved device may be used for handling and transferring various relatively light-weight materials which are otherwise difcult to obtain a purchase thereon due to'their` small dimensions and fragility. For example, the device has utility in placing gold leaf on surfaces to be gilded or for removing lint and like particles from film negatives.

A more specific object of theinvention is the provision of a portable material handling device ofthe character referred to comprising a handle carrying a battery powered electric motor driven rotary brush havingf'electr'ic'ally non-conductingV bristles arranged to wipe an electrically non-conducting surface of a material engaging element so that operation of the motor'generates a static electricity charge on the element whereby lightweight material is attracted to and retained by the element during operation of the motor. Preferably the motor is of a type Which'can be powered by batteries within the handle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a top elevational view of a material handling device embodying the invention, a portion of the device being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken substantially along line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom elevational view of a portion of the device; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

While the invention may be used for devices for handling light-weight materials of various characters, it is particularly suitable for handling gold leaf in the process of applying gilding to various surfaces, such as the application of the gold leaf for sign work on a glass window, and the device shown in the accompanying drawing is particularly suited for the latter purpose. Referring to the drawings, the device comprises a hollow handle 10 which is preferably formed of metal and is similar to the well known flashlight handles, having a closed end 11 and a threaded open end portion 12. In the form of the invention shown, handle 10 is arranged to receive two conventional 1.5 volt ashlight batteries 13a and 13b which are ararnged inside the handle in series circuit relation and are urged into engagement with one another by a compression spring 14 as is the practice in conventional 2,972,763 Patented Feb. 28,1961

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ashlights. Suitable fillers 16 of insulating material are provided to maintain the batteries properly positioned in the handle. A conventional on-off switch 15 is provided and located lconvenient for operation by the thumb of the person grasping the handle, and since such switches are well known,'it is shown schematically here.

A head structure 18 is arranged to be threaded onto the open end portion 12 of handle 10, and comprises a metal box-like frame or housing 19 open at the bottom side as indicatedv at 20. A block 21 of electrically nonconducting material, such as polystyrene plastic is attached in opening 20 by screws 22 threaded into the block through openings in the side walls of housing 19.

lcommercially, and it includes a drive shaft 26 to which ka plastic hub 27` is attached, which hub has radially extending, electrically non-conducting bristles 28 embedded therein and which bristles are arranged to sweep against an offset surface 21a of block 21. It will be readily understood that when motor 25 drives hub 27, bristles 28 wipe the surface 21a, and generate static electricity which charges block 21.

It will be seen that operation of motor 25 is controlled by switch 15 which completes the motor circuit through wire 25a, handle 10 and spring 14 to the end terminal of battery 13b whenbutton 15 is moved forwardly or to the left as seen in the drawings, and the circuit is broken by moving the button to the right.

Block 21 carries a material engaging element 31 on th underside thereof,'which element comprises a flat brusl1- like arrangement of electrically non-conductive bristles `34, which may be of nylon or of animal hairs, having the portions at one end glued between a folded cardboard heel piece-35. The heel piece is attached to the underside of block 21 by a spring clip 36, one end of which is 31 for cleaning or replacement with a similar element of somewhat different dimensions, as particular work dictates.

`In use, when it is desired to pick up the gold leaf for gilding, the gilder grasps handle 10 and presses button 15 forwardly for starting motor 25 which quickly generates static electricity in bristles 34, as described. The bristles having a negative charge, are then placed on or adjacent to the gold leaf to be used and the static, since the leaf is normally positively charged, it is attracted to the bristles so that the gilder may then manipulate the device to position theleaf on the surface to be gilded which may be a glass panel, for example. The leaf becomes negatively charged by engaging the bristles and is thereby attracted to the positively charged glass panel as soon as the leaf is brought near the panel.

The device may be also used to remove lint and like particles from photographic film negatives by causing bristles 34 to sweep the negative while motor 25 is operating to thereby attract the positively charged particles thereto.

It is to be understood that while but one form of the invention has been shown, other forms, modifications and adaptations may be employed without 'departing from the spirit thereof, as set forth in the claims'which follow.

I claim: l. A material handling device comprising, a hand grip member, a material engaging .elementof-electrically non- `conducting composition'carried by .said yhand grip member, and a lstatic electricity generator .supported by said hand grip member, and .comprising a motor and va exible non-conducting body of material driven by said motor in a sweeping movement on a part of said element to `charge said element with static electricity.

2. A handling device for gold leaf and the like corn- Vprising, a hand grip member, a material engaging element of electrically non-conducting composition carried by said hand grip member, said element including a plurality of bristles arranged in a at elongated body .forrecei-ving a gold leaf thereagainst, and a static electricity` generator .supported by said hand grip member, and comprising a motor and a eXible non-conducting `body .of material driven by said motor in a sweeping movement on the part of said element, arranged to charge said element with static electricity.

. to control said motor.

4. A handling device for gold leaf and thelike comprising, a han-d grip member, a material engaging :element of electrically .non-conducting composition attached to said hand grip member, a static electricity generator supported by said hand grip member and comprising a rotary brush-like member comprised of flexible non-conducting bristles and a motor to drive said brush-like member, the bristles of the last mentioned member engaging a part of said material engaging element for generatinga charge of static electricity on said element, and means to control said motor.

5. A handling device for gold leaf and the like comprising, a hand grip member, a material engaging element of electrically non-conducting composition attached t said hand grip member and including closely hunched bristles arranged in a at elongated body, and a static electricity generator supported by said hand grip member, and comprising a motor and a exible non-conducting body of material driven by said motor in a sweeping movement on a part of said element to charge said element with static electricity.

6. A handling device for gold leaf and the like com prising, a hollow hand gripvmember, an element of electrically non-conducting composition attached to one end of said hand grip member, a static electricity generator supported by said `hand grip member, and comprising a motor and a tlexible non-conducting body of material driven by said motorin a sweeping movement on a part of said element to -`charge said element with static electricity, a plurality of bristles arranged to form a llat brush-like member arranged to engage said element, and means to detachably secure said brush-like member to said element.

7. A material handling device comprising, a hollow Ahand grip .member for receiving batteries therein and having one end open, a frame attached to said open end of said handle, an electric motor supported to contact a terminal of a battery in said handle, an electrically nonconducting member attached to said frame, a rotary brush 25 driven by said motor and having electrically non-conducting bristles arranged to rub on the last mentioned member when driven by said motor to thereby charge said member with a static electrical charge, and means to control operation of said motor.

8. A material handling device comprising, a hollow hand grip member for receiving batteries therein and having one end open, a frame attached to said open end of said handle, an electric motor on said frame and supported to contact a terminal of a battery in said handle, an 'electrically non-conducting member attached to said frame, a rotary brush driven by said motor and having electrically non-conducting bristles arranged to rub on `the last mentioned member when driven by said motor to thereby charge said member with a static electrical charge, and means to control operation of said motor.

Culp Mar. 2, 1886 Steiner et al Apr. 1, 1958 

